Moving stairway.



' e. A. WHEELER.

MOVING STAIEWAY. APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 1a, 1905.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.-

' I A."WHBBLBE. y MOVING STAIRWAY. e 7 APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 1a,` 1905. @995933. y e Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

4 sHBTs-SHBBT 2.

GEORGE LKNHEELER, or Naw YORK, lNi Y.

MOVING sTAIRwAY.

New .York city, borough of Brooklyn, State 5 'of New York, have invented certain 'Improvementsin Moving Stairways, of which the following is a-speci'cation.

' The main object of my invention is to so construct'- a stairway that its step sections will be always in contact o r substantially in tion of the step sections.

The inventionv relates still further to the" driven hand rail and other detail mechanism which will be described hereafter. l

` Inthe accompanying drawings ligure 1, is a longitudinal sectional View of the upi perportion 'of myimproved movingstairwayy' Fig 1, is a longitudinal sectional view `structure',1the'ste s and rive chain being removed;- Fig. 2*?, 1s a view of thelower portion ofthe structure; Fi 3, is a transverse' 'sectional 'view on the ine Sel-3,' Fig. P; Fig. 4, is a detached perspective viewof one ofthe lijn-ks; Fig. 5*,is a'longitudinal sec-` tional-"view of the upper portion of a stairway 'illustrating the movin hand 'rail and-fa modification ofthe mechanism for imparting movement to the steps; Fig. 5b, is a view of the lower portion ofthe stairway illustrated -in-ig. 5u; Fig. 6, is atransverse sectional Yviewon the line 6 6, Fig. 5b; lig. '7, is a l' sectional view on the line 7`7,`Fig. 5*; Fig. 4'0

S, is va sectional view on the line 8 8, Fig. 51?; Fig. 9, is-a side view ofa section of a hand rail; Fig.' 10, is a perspective view of one of the step-sections; Fig/11, isffperspective `view illustrating a portion of the driveV chain used in the construction shown in Figs. 5st and 5b; Fig, 1 2, isa sectional view on the line 12-12, Fig. 5P; and Pigs. 13 and 14, aresectional viewsof a stairway in which.

-- the 'step sections travel in a reverse direction tothe sections shown-in Figsflf and A1l". 1

, My stairway is of the 'type in which thev stepk'lsections form the incline stepped portion oft e stairway and the upper and lower horiplatforms,` the return run of the step Specification of Letters Patent. Application led. November 13,- 1905 Serial No. 287,054.

vand the inclined step portion.

contact on the -carryin runf of the stairway.

turn run can sag withoutafecting the posif` of theflewer portion; Fig. 2,is a longitudi-l nal sectionalview of the up er portion of the Patented sept. 29, 190s. z

{What I Inean by carrying run is. that portion of the stairway which is actually used for the carrying of assengers and in this instance consists of t e upper and lower platforms Heretofore it has been a dilicult matter to properly construct a moving stairway, of the type illustrated Without causing a gap rat the point where the lower platform vjoins the inclined portion and where the inclined portion 6;',

joins the upper platform. By my invention l am enable to s o assemble the step sections that there will be no appreciable gap at any point throughout the carrying run. And by my improvement l am enabled to make a stairway in which only one step is out of' qalinern'ent when being. transferred from the inclined to the horizontal way, or from the horizontal to the inclined way, and I can use a standard step section in'cons'tructing' the 75 stairway as I do not -have vto design the vidual step sections according to the height of 'the stairway.`

Referring in the first instance to Figs. 18L

to 4 inclusive, which show an ascending mov- 80 ing staiirway,A is the drive chain made up of a series'of links a coupled together by ins a. Gn-the ends .of each pin .are ilanged w eels 11,2' which travel on a track B and with which engage the sprocket wheels B, B2 .which are &5 mounted on shafts B3, B4 respectively, havingfff their bearings in the frame of the stairway In this instance the wheel B is the drivihfrf Wheel. In some instances l may use a guard rail b3, as shown in full lines inFig. 2 for lholding down the chain A as it travels from' the lower sprocket wheel to the inclined portion of the stairway. On each link is a lug a3 havin0r two steps,-as shown clearly in Fig. 4, these tlugs engage the st'e sections as fully described hereafter. D, lg are the step sections, each step section is so shaped as to form a tread d and a riser d. The risers are 'backed off, as illustrated in Figs la and l", so that the upper edge of one stepwill overhang the tread of the step section directly below it and the step sections are so proportioned that the inner edge of the tread of' each step section will rest against the face of the riser of theadjoining step section, both on the inclinedand horizontal portions of the carrying run. Mounted on studs projectinfr -frorn each end ofthe step sections are fiange sections passing under the carrying run. 55

the wheels 613,'as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, and travel on different rails when on the horiwe zontal portion .of the runs and travel on rails of the same plane when on the inclined porvtionof the run,` as clearly indicated in the drawings. C, .C are the rails for the outer wheels d4 and. C, C are .the rails for the sections.

wheels d3. The wheels in passing around the ends of` the stairwayl vtravel in suitable grooves f, j" in the end guides F, F. The groove j" is formed by continuations of the rails C, C and by a guardrail C3 which forms acontinuation of the railCZv for the return run of the ste sections. The end guides are secured to t e framework of the stairway which may be of any type'desired according to the character of tlie structure erected, and the rails at the lower -portion of the stairway forming the return guide f are adjustable so `as to take u any slack in the enchained step n the present instance the framework is slotted at aand bolts c are provided for fastening the rails in their adjusted ositions'. Other means rmay be' designe `for accomplishing this purpose. The shaft B4 is preferably mounted in an adjustable bearing b mounted in a slidewayb on the framework of the stairway and the bearings can be adjusted by set screws b2, as clearly shown in- Fig. 2b. In some instances I may substitute sprocket wheels forv the fixed guides at the end of the stairway. Mounted under the tread of each step section is a bardZ running the full width of the step and in order to enchainthe'step sections l couplejlink's Dto' the f said ars, as'shovn in Fig. la and one end of eachlink snugly iits a bar while the otherend isslotted as shown, so as to allow each step section to have a certain freedom of motion particularly at the'peints wherel the step sections ehang'e directionfof motion.l The bars d2 are so situated in respect to the chain-A that the stepped lugs a will engage the bars and impart motion to the enchained step sections. l In some points of thetravel one portion of the stepped lug engages the bar, at other points the other portions of the-lug will engage the bar andat still another point the lugs project in front of the step sectlons preventing them spreading. This is part1cularly ther case when traveling to form the upper platform. j

It will be noticed inreferring to Fig. 2a that the rails C, C on which the step sections travel change' from the inclined path to the upper horizontal path at an angle, while the rai B for the chain passes from one to theA clined portion and transfer the step sections from" thehorizontal portion to the inclined ortion and from the inclined portion to the liorizontal portion without jar and without opening spaces A between the sections. It will be noticed thatthe drive chain is not as long` as the endless chain of steps, terminating short of each end as it is only essential to control the step sections while on the carrying run of the stairway.

Referring now to Fig. lb the lugs a? ofthe chain, which are referably arranged at the pivot points of'tllie links, rise as the chain passes around the `wheel B2 until the portion lfof the lug engages the rod d2 of a ste section D pushing the step section forwar until it-reacnes a point where it is about kto be transferred from the lower horizontal rails to the inclined rails, then the rail B is so curved that the chain is moved closer to the step sections and as it is traveling in a shorter path the portion 2 of the lug will engage the rod d2 of the step section' pushing'the step section up the"incline'd rails, as indicatedin Figs. lb and la, 'the' portion 2 of the lug remaining'in engagement with the rod d until thestep section reaches a point where it is about to be transferred from the inclined rails to the vu per horizontal rails, then, owing to the gente curve in the rail B at this point, the chain A gradually moves away from the ste section' and consequently the lug a3 is with) step .sectionfree-.from control of the lug and consequently of the chain. As thestep section must travel up the inclined-rail and be transferred'at-an anglev to the upper horizon` tal rail its path is longer than the ath ofthe drive chain. and as it is perfectly ree atthis point it is forced forward by the stepsectio'n following it which is still under the control of the chain and prevented moving too far the preceding step sectipn, so that it is then at the point where it changes fromA the incline to the upper horizontal path under theconf trol of the two step sections on each side of it; Thus preventing formation of any space at drawn leaving the rodl and itsV the point between the upper landing and the inclined steps. 'Heretofore it has always been' a difficult mattei to-keep the steps in contact at this point. the links D slotted at one end I' am enabled to allow each step section, at the points where they change direction of movement, to have a certain amount of independent motion as described above.

In order to prevent the step sections arting -while on the up er horizontal'run I ring the rail B for the ciiain to such a position in res ect to the step sections that the lugs a.

ste section and, owing to the fact that the enc rained step sections travel in a longer wil project in the path of the rods d2 of each t path than the drive chain A, the lugs roject in front of the rods, as indicated in 1ig.

115 By making each of Scams- A glass around the head wheel the lugs are wit drawn from 'the path of the rods dvand the step sections are free to .travel on their 'igrails around theend F and return onthe rail C2. As the step .sectionspass under the head wheel B the; portion 2 of the lugs e 1-0 engage the rods d2 of the step .sections and push them forward on the return run Auntil the step sections free themselves as they pass down the inclined return rail. Thus .it

will be seen that the stairwayis so con:v

15. structed that the stepsections are arranged ,tol travel in a given path andare drivenby adrive chain arranged to engage each step sec-- tion, but the ste sections are free of the chain at the points'w ere they change direction of 201 movement on the carrying run of the stair- Way so as to prevent any gaps or openings at these points, the step sections on the entire carrying times. 2K5.

Vmoving lower platformfand is the fixed upper platform under which the step sections ass. i

While Figs. lF'fand 1b; illustrate a moving stairway ofthe ascending type,I may use the same construction for a stairway of the by sheathing fw which may form part of the main frame 'W of the stairway; U on this sheathing I mount 4the gu'ards'K,

moving hand rail M.

In Fig. 3,v I have shown the euardsK and the returnruns of the hand raitfs M, while in.

510v Figs. 5a, 5b, 7, 8 and 9 I have shown details of the construction of said hand frail. On

the upper edgeof each guard K isa channel 7c for the passa efof the section m of the movablev hand rai M. The section m of the hand rail is greater in diameter than the section m and rests in the groove le', Fig. 8, and the two sections m, m of the hand rails are made vof spring Wire coiled as shown, one section .being interlaced with the other, as shown in, Figs. 8 and 9. In `the presentinstanc'e the section m is bentslightly tolform aloop 'm2v sothat coilsof the'sectionm will readily interlace with the said section m. This hand rail M ipasses around sheaves N, N', at each end o the guard K and, in the presrun being close together at alll H is 'the lower iixedl'platform from under which thestep sections emer e to form the s and wheelsof the step sections are eoncealed at allpoints throughout the stairway OIlefOI'f both of which may act as supports for the shown in Fig. 5, and' also at the point pre- 1 ent instance, the upper sheave N is the driving sheave. The sheave N maybe driven by a chain or belt n, as indicated in Fig. 5L from the driving shaft for the` chain. Av casing k2 is formed at the lower end of: the 7G guard-K for the purpose of inclosing a portion of the hand rail et this end-of the stair i Yhe wire from which the spiral hand rail is made is of suicient strength to prevent the hand rail" opening to such an extent as-to allow the fingers of the person being'carried by the platform catching between the convolutionsof the hand rail. In seme instances the ex osed portion of the hand rail may be provi ed with a cover without departing from the 'main feature of the invention.' vIn the present' instance, as illustrated i1`1`Fig. 7, the driving sheave N has a deep groove to receive the portion fm. of the hand rail and has teeth on each ilange n. which engage the portion m of the hand rail. In some instances however, this construction need not be used as the hand rail, due to its' spring, is always under tension and the' friction maybe sufficient to drive the hand rail. The hand rail is preferably driven at the samespeed as the ,moving portion- 'oi the stairway and while itl .is referable to have a moving hand rail 1tl .v

wil be understood that 'in some instances this hand rail may be dispensed with.

Figs. 1u to 4 inclusive, show the preferred form of construction, but I may use the constructionillustrated in Fig. 5a and Figs. 5b, 6,l 10', '1l' and 12: The step sections are preferably ojf the saine shape as the step sections illustrated in Figs. 1a and 1b and the rails C, Clare of the same type and bear the same relation to' each other. As shown in Fig; 10, the' step section has the tread portion d, the riser portion dand the two Vflanged wheelsd3, d4 similar. to the step section previously described. The chain A in this instance travels on the rail B5 while on the carrying run and on the rail B while on the return run. There a certain distance,

however, between thepper end of the stairway and the point where the chain turns to descend where 1t is free to sag, as clearly' vious to turning from theTlower run to the upper run. At other pomtsrthe chain A is under the control of the rai-ls. In this in- -stance there is a guard raiLB7 at the point where the rail curves from the lower horizontal path to the inclined path and there is a guard rail`B8 above the rail B", as shown in the drawings. In this instance the chain is madev up of-a series of links a.4 arranged in pairs and each pair spaced. a distance apart `12.3 n and 'connecting the palrs .et links are cross bars ai' which form an endless rack with which engages the driven sprocket wheel G which is mounted on the driven shaft G. The sprocket wheel is so situated that it engages the carrying run of the chain directly below the upper platform and also' engages the return run of the chain, preferably before it makes the descent on the return run. The forni of chain is illustrated clearly in'Fig. 11.

Links .i are attached to the pivot pins whichdrawn forward by the said drive chain through the iiiediuin of the links, but it will be noticed that at the points where the step sectionst change direction of movement they are free and are moved forward by the suc c'eeding step sections. i

Referring t'o Fig. 51? the l step sections emerge from under the lower platform H and are drawn forward by the drive chain until they reach a point where the step section is to be transferred from the horizontal rails to the inclined rails. The chain in this instance travels on a gentle curve while the rails for the step sections meet atan angle, thus the step sections at the angle are free from the direct control of the chaingand .are pushed forward by the succeeding step sections', thus closing any gap which would ordi- I naiily occur at this point and will allow the step sections' to transfer from onetrack to another without jar. ViThen the step section isv fullyyon the inclined rail the rod e is again engaged by the link and the step section is v drawn upl the incline tracks until it nears the point where it is to be transferred to the horizontal tracks. At this point the rail B5 is shaped so as to come closer to the path ofthe step sections and consequently the rod civili travel inthe slot i of the links i, as indicated in Fig. 5a, allowing the succeeding step sec tions to push the step sections at this point until the Awheels of the step sections are on the horizontal tracks when thel individualv steps again come under the control of the chain A. Thus the step sections are forced close together at the point where the inclined portion of the stairway joins the'upper horizontal platform, closing all gaps or spaces.

v.As the step sections turn around the head guide E they are again free of the chain A and remain free until the wheels of the chain are caught by the rail B, the chain being free to sag between the head guide and the lrail B". A t this point of the return run the sprocket wheel engages theI chain so as to carry the chain and its step sections forwardl and allow the step sections to descend 'by their own weight, having a limited motion irrespective of the chain, the step sections are then free of the chain until the base guide is reached then the chain pulls the step sections up through'the base guide, drawing run is in the reverse direction to that shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, the stairway being de signed foi' the purpose of carrying a passenger from the upper i'loor to the lower floor. In this instance in place of the slotted links which allow the step sections to have moven ment in respect to the chain the links i2 are connected to the rods cf the step sections D without lost motion and the links aie connected to the chains A2 without lost motion'.

The result attained by the construction heretofore described is attained in vthis case by cuiviiig the rails for the carrying chain a-t the point where the yinclined portion joins the horizontal portion in such a manner that no gaps will be formed between the step sections.

I claim: V

l. The combination in a moving stairway, ofa series of step sections arranged to travel in a given path, a chain arranged to drive said step sections, said step sections being free to lag at the points where they change direction of movement yon the carrying run, substantially as described.

2'. The combination in a moving stairway, of step sections, guides therefor, an endless drive chain, guides for said chain, the guides for the steps being at more of an acute angle than-.the guide for the chain at the point of step sections, guides therefor, an endless drive chain for the step sections. guides l'or the chain, the guidesl for the ste sections at the p oints where the liorizonta portions of the stairway join the inclined oitions being at an angle and the guides for t ie drive chain being on a curve, substantially as described.

4. In awnioving stairway, the combination of step sections, guides therefor, a drive chain for said ste'p sections, guides for the drive chain, the two guides being so fornicd that the step sections will travel in a relatively longer path than the drive chain at the point where the direction of movement of the step section is changed, so as to keep the several step sections in contact at this pointh substantially as described.

5. The combination in a moving stairway,

of step sections, links connecting the sections, a drive chain having portions engaging said sections, guides for the. step sections and guides for the drive chain, the guides for the step sections being at an angle at the point where the change of direction of movement occurs, and the guides for the chain being on i Ia curvef'atuthis point, substantially Aaside- The combination in a moving stairway,

1 of a seriesof step sections,linlfs connecting `the' said step sections, a link-drive chain having projections arranged to engage the step sections, rails upon-which the step sections upon which the drive chain described.

of upper and lower horizontal rails` and in- ;clined rails, step sections, wheels -on said step sections arranged to travel on saidfrails, links connecting thc step sections, a drive chain, a

frail uponwhich the drive chain travels on the f .carrying run, and lugs on the "bain engaging l the step sections, Asubstantially as described.

8; The combination in a moving stairway,

`of upper and lower horizontal rails, inclined l rails, step sections having wlieelsarranged run,l lwhee to-travel on'saidrailafa cross rod oneach step section, a drive chain arranged to travel under vthe step sections on the carrying run, a 'rail-for su porting said chain on the carrying )is around which the chain passes,

- and lugs on the chain arranged to engage tiallyA as described. 3'

l with the rods on the step sections, substan- 9.j The combination in a moving stairway,

' ofup er andlower horizontal rails and in- V feline rails, said inclined iails oiiiing the horizontalrails at an angle, ste

sections ar- .ranged to travel on saidv rais, an endless drive chain arranged to engage the said step sections, sprocketwhee'ls around vwhich the .drivechain passes',v a sunporting rail for said chain having u'pperand a tions'and an inclined section, the joint be-` 410: Section being on a curve, substantially as deower horizontal sectweeiithe inclined section Aand the horizontal f scribed.

' i 10;A vThe combination in a moving vstairwa of upper and lower horizontal rails and travel' on said rails, a baron each step sec- -.tion, links. 'extending from one bar to the inc ined rails, step sections arranged to I other andforming an endless chain of steps,-

I l'engage-the bar, substantia an endless drive chain, a' rail `for supporting said drive chain .on the carrying run 'oi the stairway, said chain having lugs arranged .to

11. The combination in a moving stairway, of upper and lower horizontal rails .and inclined rails, step sections arran ed to travel on said rails, links `connecting t esections to form an endless chain, one end of the links being slottedsoas to allow a `certain amount of lost motion, and a drive chain by which motion isimparted to the step sections, substantially as `described.

12. The combination in a moving 'stairwa of upper aird lower horizontal rails and` vinc ined rails, step sections arranged to as described.

the bars and drive the step sections, substantially as described.

13. Thev combination in a moving stairwa oi upper and lower horizontalrails and `inc ined rails, step sections .arranged to- `travel thereon,- a bar on each step section, .links extending from 'one bar to the other,

one -end of each link being slotted to allow a certain amount of lost motioinan endless drive chain, sproc-ket wheels around which the said chain passes, a rail for supportin the drive chain on the horizontal run, an

lugs on the drive chain arranged to en age the bars and drive the step sections, t e said rail for the drive chain being in such lrelation to the'rails of the step sections that the lugs will be disengaged from the step sections at the point Wheie the step sections change direction of movement, substantially as described.

14. The combination in a moving stairway, of step sections, rails upon which said step sections travel, an endless drivechain .having lugs thereon, each lug having two Steps so that onv certain portions oi the run one step is inengagement with each step section and at other `portions of the run the other step of the lug is in engagement with the step sections, substantially as described.'

15. The combination of a moving stairway and a' hand rail therefor having-its tension member composed of a spirally wound wire coil. i

16. lArlink for a traveling 'stairway having a projecting lug there'on notched to iorm two steps, substantially. as described.

17. A link for a traveling stairway having 'a lug at one end, said lug'notclied to forni two steps, substantially as described.

18. The combination in a moving stairway, oi step sections, links connectingthe step sections so as to form an endless'chain of steps, guides. and rails so formed that the return iun of the step sections will be under the carrying run, a drive chain mounted between the two runs, sprocket wheels around Whichthe drive chain asses, said drive `chain being shorter than t c endless chain of steps, the said step sections being tree to lar atthe'points where they change direction di movement on the carrying run, substantially as described.

, 19. The combination of u per and lower horizontal rails, inclined railIs), step sections arranged to trav-el onsaid rails, a drive chain for driving said step sections, guides at each end of the stairway for the step sections, the Y guides at the'lower end ofthe stairway being adjustable, substantially as described.

20. The combination of upper and lower horizontal rails and inclined iails, step sections arranged to travel on said rails, upper and lower return guides for the step sections, means for adjusting saidguides, an endless drive chain, sprocket wheels around which the drive chain passes, a rail for supporting the said chain on the carrying run, and adjustable bearings for the lower sprocket Wheel, substantially as described.

21.` The combination in a moving stairway, of side rails having upper and lower horizontal portions and inclined portions, step sections arranged to travel on said rails, a drive chain centrally situated in respect to the side rails and arranged-to engage the ste sections to drive the saine, sprocket wheel around which the said chain passes, and rails 'for the said chain arranged at the center of the stairwayVsubstantially as described.

22. The combination in a moving stairway, of rails having inclined and horizontal portions, step sections arranged to travel on said rails, a" rod on each stepscction, a drive`y i chain niountedunder the step section on the carrying run and having lugs engaging the rods of the step sections, a rail for the said drive chain, said rail being se arranged in respect to the rails of the step sections that the lugs will engage the rods of the step scc- .tions on the inclined carrying run and be drawn away from them as the step sections are transferred from the inclined to the horizontal portion of the rails and then advance in front-of the rods, then whole of the step sections being iii position while traveling on the upper horizontal portions of .the rails, substantially as described.

23. The combination in a moving stair- Way, of rails having a lower horizontal portion and an inclined portion joining the said horizontal portion at an angle, step sections arranged to travel on said rails, a rod on each step scction an endless chain arranged to travel under the ste sections, a rail for the said chain, stepped iiigs projecting troni the said chain and arranged to engage .the rods of the step sections, one step of the lugs en gaging the rods of the stepsections while the step/sectionsare traveling on the lower horizontal portion ofthe rails, the other step of each lug engaging the rods of the step sec-- tions while on' theinclined portion of ythe rails, substantially as described.

2a.' The combination of two sets of rails,

each having upper and lower horizontal and inclined portions, the said rails being on the saine plane on the inclined portion and one set of rails being elevated above the other on the horizontal portion, the horizontal portion of said rail joining the inclined portion at an angle, ste sections havingwheels arportions of said rai with the inclined por tion, the parts beingso arranged that each step section will be free at the point where it changes direction of movement, substantially as described.

25. The combination with a moving stairway of a hand rail consisting of an endless belt providing a hand rail gripping surface and consisting of a spirally wound wire coil.

26. The combination in a moving hand rail consisting of two endlessl s )irally coiled sections, one interlaced with t ie other, one forming the handheld and the other forming a guide, supports for said hand rail and driving means, substantially as described.

27. The combination in a stairway, of a guard at the side of the stairway, a groove in the guard, a hand rail made in two sections, onesection less in diameter than the other, the smaller sectionA being mounted in the groove and the large section forming the handheld, and means for driving the hand rail, substantially as described.

2S. A moving hand rail consisting of' two spirally coiled sections, one interlaced with the other, 'substantially as described.

. 29. A moving hand rail consisting of two spirally coiled sections, one section being greater in diameter than the other, the two sections being interlaced, substantially as described.

30. The con'ibination in a moving stairway of' guides, a hand rail consisting of a continuous symmetrically wound spiral wire coil, with means for retaining said coil on said guides.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my naine to this specilication, in the presence ol two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A.. VVlflEElilClt.

lliitnesses: l

Jeux J. McGrioNnN, rlnonis P. Florin. 

